Horse Crossing Signs Could Cost $40,000, But Officials Still Weighing Options

It would cost between $30,000 and $40,000 to install a at SOM Center Road and Hawthorne Parkway designed to alert motorists to crossing horse riders and bikers.

But before moving forward with a plan, Solon officials want to talk with the Metroparks.The main reason is that Police Chief Chris Viland is worried that the configuration of the crossings and the intersection will make the situation more confusing.

The crux of the issue is that horse riders, cyclists, and pedestrians who use the popular trails are the fast-moving traffic at SOM Center Road. They want a traffic light at the intersection.

The problem is that traffic counts don't warrant a light, so Solon traffic engineer Kevin Westbrooks is trying to find other options.

What he's come up with is a system of signs that turn on flashing lights when a rider or pedestrian hits a button. Cars on SOM Center aren't required to stop, but the hope is that the flashing lights will encourage caution.

But one confusing part of the intersection is that there are separate crossings for horse and pedestrian traffic.

Add that with the fact that motorists on SOM don't actually have to stop for those crossing the road and there's potential for a bigger problem, Viland said.

"Perhaps we are creating a more confusing situation warning people to stop who don’t have to stop," Viland said.

Councilman agreed.

"I don’t know if it really solves the problem," he said of the flashing lights. "I don’t want to put up signage and give people the false impression they are safe while walking across the crosswalk."

One possible solution would be to move the two crossings closer together and on the same side of the intersection. Right now, the horse crossing is on the north side of the intersection and the pedestrian crosswalk is on the south side.

Bit Solon officials need to talk to the Metroparks before doing that, since the trails lead into their parks.

Westbrooks told the safety committee he will talk with the park system and get back to the committee.